Law enforcers foiled an attempt of the anti-Ahmadiyya zealots to capture Dhanikhola Ahmadiyya mosque in Trishal in Mymensingh on February 10.

The fanatics however hung a signboard on a tree at Boilor Bazar, about two kilometres off Dhanikhola, asking Muslims not to say prayers at the Ahmadiyya mosque.

No untoward incident took place during the agitation. The bigots have been agitating for the last two and a half years demanding that the government should declare Ahmadiyyas non-Muslim.

A large number of panicked locals left their houses as the International Khatme Nabuwat Movement, Bangladesh had announced to capture the mosque and hang a signboard branding the mosque merely as a place of worship and asking Muslims not to “mistake it for a mosque”.

Over 500 members of police, Rapid Action Battalion, Armed Police Battalion and Bangladesh Rifles were deployed at 19 points a few hours before the capture bid, which was scheduled to start after Juma prayers.

Over 4,000 Nabuwat leaders and activists gathered at Trishal Nazrul College after the Juma prayers.

Before marching to Dhani-khola, the leaders asked the local administration not to intervene in their “peaceful programme”. They threatened that they would create a ‘Karbala’-like situation if the law enforcers bar them from observing their programme.

As the procession reached Mucharpara, five kilometres off Dhanikhola, police and BDR led by Mymensingh Superintendent of Police Abdullahel Baki obstructed them on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway.

Officials of the police and local administration told the Nabuwat leaders they would not be allowed to march to Dhanikhola.

The IKNMB leaders made an effort to hang the signboard at Boilor Bazar but the police did not allow them to advance. The Nabuwat leaders in the end hung the signboard on a mango tree.

The IKNMB leaders announced that they would capture Ahmadiyya mosque in Sylhet on March 24 and at Shyamnagar in Satkhira on May 12. They also announced to observe April 17 as ‘Mosque Freeing Day’ across the country.

Before marching towards Dhanikhola, IKNMB activists held a grand rally on Trishal Nazrul College premises after the Juma prayers. Shaikhul Hadith Maolana Giasuddin chaired the rally, while IKNMB President Mufti Noor Hossain Noorani addressed it as the chief guest.

The speakers said the government has an obligation to declare Ahmadiyyas non-Muslim, complying with the demand of the Muslims of the country “who voted the ruling alliance to power”.

“Even 10 ministers could not do what we have done for Begum Zia,” Mufti Noorani said.

Demanding a new law for declaring Ahmadiyyas non-Muslim, the speakers threatened that the government will have to face “a negative reaction” by the Muslims through ballots in future if the demand is not met.

A group of human rights organisations led by Abdullahel Kafi, director of Bangladesh Development Partnership Centre, visited the area.

Central Ahmadiyya missionary Abdul Awal Khan at a press conference at the local press club thanked the police administration for their steps.

“The will of the government is sufficient to stop the alarming rise of fundamentalism. It has been proved here again today,” he said. He termed the forcible hanging of the signboard “anarchy in the name of religion”.